c7 pres. RAKIM - "THE LOST ALBUM"

[claaa7]

After the duo's last album, '92s "Don't Sweat the Technique" Rakim broke up with Eric B. to focus on his solo career. There was one problem he encountered though; MCA Records didn't want to allow The God MC going solo since they believed they had a good thing with Eric/Ra. The result was that his career was put on limbo, save for a few guest spots and soundtrack apperances. He had started recording his solo debut around '94 but it would take until 1997 before Universal Records bought him out of the MCA contract for no less than $1000.000. With a new label backing him, this allowed him to release his proper solo debut "The 18th Letter".

The compilation you'll find below focuses on the time between his break with Eric B. to his official debut album in 1997. Suprisingly there's enough dope material to make an entire album out of that unreleased material and most of it are in very good quality. I deleted a few alternative versions that had exclusive beats and hooks but contained verses later reused on "The 18th Letter". I also added a very small amount of guest features from this period to bump it up to 15 songs. The end result is a slamming Rakim album/compilation featuring production by the likes of Buckwild, Easy Mo Bee, Gary G-Wiz, Pete Rock, Havoc, Nick Wiz and more. In other words it's the missing link between "Don't Sweat the Technique" and "The 18th Letter". Considering that Rakim is one of my absolute favorite emcees of all time, you can count on this only being Volume 1 in at least a 3 volumes series showcasing The God MC's non album works and guest spots. So tune in, press play and TURN IT UP!!


01. "Heat It Up"
02. "Bring It Up (Turn It Back)"
03. "Shades Of Black"
04. "Murderer" (Ft. Barrington Levy)
05. "Last Resort"
06. "Living For the City"
07. "Hoodlum" (Ft. Mobb Deep & Noyd)
08. "New York to Cali"
09. "Tryin' Ta Write Rhymes"
10. "Once Upon A Rhyme"
11. "Show Me Love" [Nick Wiz Mix]
12. "Hoodlum '94"
13. "Game Of Death" (Ft. Shaquille O'Neal)
14. "Heat It Up" [The Wiz Mix]
15. "We All Got Plans"

DOWNLOAD @ THE LOST TAPES

[THE MASON]

doooooooooope

[JASPER BEARDLY]

seriously damn thats whats up

[cap]

Wow you always come through claa, been listening to a shitload of rakim the past weeks so this is perfect timing! thanks.

[claaa7]

^ cap - word, same here.. i listened extensively to all four Eric B./Rakim albums plus his three solo albums - all very underrated album. "The Seventh Seal" is a real banging album.

besides all the albums i mentioned above which i have on retail copies, i have every Rakim song ever released either on wax, CD or digital so expect more compilations like this

[Jin10304]

what are the prod. credits? I know Havoc did Hoodlum.

[MaskedAvenger]

great stuff

[OPTIMUS]

always loved that hoodlum joint imagine a R lp produced entirely by hav back then

[claaa7]

what are the prod. credits? I know Havoc did Hoodlum.

"Heat It Up" [prod. by a danish crew Madness 4 Real]
"Heat It Up" [The Wiz Mix] [prod. by Gary G-Wiz]
"Shades Of Black" [prod. by Easy Mo Bee]
"Once Upon A Rhyme" [prod. by Nick Wiz]
"Show Me Love" (OG) [prod. by Nick Wiz]
"Game Of Death" w. Shaq [prod. by Easy Mo Bee]
"Hoodlum" (w. Mobb Deep) [prod. by Havoc]
"Living For the City" [prod. by Pete Rock]
"Last Resort" [prod. by Buckwild]
"Murderer" (w. Barrington Levy) [prod. by Sly & Robbie, Lee Jaffe & Andre Betts]

[Squidgy McGubbins]

Siiiiiiiiiiiick.

Definitely adding this to my collection.

[Fatal Guillotine]

nice claa7

[main_man]

c-7 with another hook up.

thanks, man. im always down for some lost material from the 90s of rakim/g rap or any other dope mc.

[Tecknowledgist]

dope shit homie

you should fix that archive list at the right of your blog though

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[Crown Fried Patron]

Good shit. I've heard some of these before but a few I haven't heard. I saw The God live last summer in Central Park, I was hoping that for some insane reason, he might perform "We All Got Plans," of course it didn't happen though.

[RADIOACTIVE MAN]

Nice, on it